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Why do you want to become an adjuster?

I have been told by many of customers that I was more helpful in their coverage issues, deductibles, and helping them with their claim than their actual adjuster. I NO LONGER want to be the one doing the restoring. I enjoy working with the client on any issue, although I am burnt out on serious manual labor. I worked with many of our adjuster on a daily basis and know they are seriously overloaded around here. I understand their inabbilities to help an individual constantly, as many of my past customers have needed.

I understand that there are many hours spent on the computer and paperwork, I know that too well. That is what I want. I don't want to be the one to have to tear out, dry, fix, and clean..........

>>I have been told by many of customers that I was more helpful in their coverage issues, deductibles, and helping them with their claim than their actual
adjuster. <<

It seems to me that you are much better qualified as a new person in the field than many I've met and worked with. Your emphasis on customer service over remuneration makes you a valuable candidate for this trade. Yours is one of the most informed appraisals of adjusting that I've ever read from someone who has never actually held a license.

By all means list your restoration certifications on your resume, and send your resume to the most-respected vendors. As far as getting a license, Ray Hall (and others, including me) might argue that your best chance of being deployed would be during a major storm event, when "warm bodies" (ie, those unlicensed and inexperienced) hit the road in droves. So licensing (or the lack thereof), isn't necessarily a prerequisite (or impediment) to entry. Your prior experience will help you immeasurably in expediently closing the first flush of claims assigned to you; you will then be pretty high up on the list of those being considered for "cleanup".

I would be interested in Deb's take on this, as she has been involved with staffing for so long, and has first-hand knowledge.

>>although I am burnt out on serious manual labor.<<

Welcome to a trade that offers a whole different take on "burnout"! LOL

Thank You Catdawg for your words of encouragement for I am slightly getting discouraged not having a college degree. I just enrolled in Vales 3 week long course in Texas, and unfortunately it will be a very pricey trip. I have been told by others that this school is crucial for me to take in order to obtain work. This school however does not offer a license, and I'm a little iffy on it. I will then be taking an exactimate course during my stay. I am wondering if after I take this course if I could then obtain my TX non resident license over the their internet course.

Is this a decent path to take or should I reconsider my course options??????

You're on to a great start.  The fact that Vale doesn't offer a license is irrelevant.  They offer training that is top notch and having their certificate of Course Completion is an excellent start.  Getting your Texas license is the best state to start with as well.  I recommend seeking additional assistance from www.claimsmentor.com. 

Claimsmentor has a pretty exhaustive list of training seminars and their dates.  I'll warn you that there are many adjusters out there that have numerous (over ten) certifications and licenses and still haven't worked a single claim.  On the same token, there are plenty of adjusters out there that had zero experience and certifications and managed to find plenty of work.  When it's not the cerifications that get you in, it will hinge on your timing and sales skills.  It appears that you are well on your way to having all three.  Good luck!

Thanks for asking for our input Lee.

I have many independent friends from Tn. The majority I know do have a Fl non resident permanent license and a TX non resident permanent license. Your question states you may need to go to TX and spend several weeks to get the license.

Here is a link to a FL course you can take on line to get your license:

http://www.ce.ucf.edu/pc_course.asp?prog=560

And a link to take the TX license online:(several other firms are also found on internet search):

http://www.learninsurance.com/texas...icense.cfm

You'd save alot of travel expenses, vacation time from your present job,etc taking the licensing exams on line should you wish to obtain non resident licenses in some of the primary cat states.

Each state does have emergency licensing provisions for adjusters coming in from out of state so you would need to view the Department of Insurance regulations pertaining to out of state adjusters to be sure you comply before accepting assignments in a given state you are working cat losses. There have been many changes in 06 on emergency licenses in states like Tx and FL so rather than just view old archive posts, you would be best to check the official Dept of Insurance site for current regulations. Fl now requires online submission of emergency applications. Tx now waives some of the licenses but several adjusting firms have advised that the carriers are telling them that they are still going to require a license inspite of the new Tx provision to ensure there has been a background check and adjuster training of individuals working their claims. Also, LA added an adjusters license to begin in June 07. The point here is - check each state to be sure you comply before accepting assignments.

Lee is correct that many adjusters worked due to supply and demand issues due to the vast number of adjusters needed during Katrina,etc

The majority of requests from adjusting firms today require experience. The carriers dictate the experience level minimums to the adjusting firms. The requests we have received since things have settled down are indicating most adjusting firms are seeking a minimum of 2-3 years of experience. Many of the carriers also dictate the experience level required to take their certification exams to work their claims.

Examples are the post by Citizens of FL requiring a minimum of 1 year experience to work the "Desktop" Adjuster positions and 2 years to work their claims as a field adjuster.

See page 32 on experience required by adjusting firms supplying adjusters to Citizens :(now the #1 insurer in FL)

http://www.citizensfla.com/purchasi...imsRFP.pdf

Carrier certifications are an important goal for trainees and several adjusting firms offer these such as Eberl:

http://www.eberls.com/state_farm_ID...GISTER.cfm

http://www.eberls.com/statefarm_cert_register.cfm

Amcat-USAA certification coming up next week says you have to have 3 years of experience to take this one:

http://www.amcatusa.com/class-clientbased.htm

American Family certs given by :
http://www.cnc-resource.com

There are a host of other firms such as Pilot, EARenfroe, Worley,etc also offering the courses.

She indicates she already has Xactimate experience but may need training in handling estimates according to carrier protocol on such things a minimum charges, overhead and profit,etc...

Many of you we've worked with that have contractors backgrounds have confirmed that there is much more to adjusting than the estimate. There is alot of training required on Debris Removal expense, ALE and proper ALE worksheet completion, contents claim issues,etc. File requirements, dealing with attorney and PA demand letter issues, Dept of Insurance complaint handling, Business Interruption claims and on and on that someone with a contractor background only would need to learn to proficiently handle claim file requirements, reports, and carrier directives on communicating with policyholders and properly handling state mandated mediation guidelines,etc

Have I seen hundreds of resumes now from folks with similar backgrounds deployed during 04/05 and obtaining these carrier certifications inspite of the experience levels normally required? You bet! Will it continue? I personally think that remains to be seen depending on the severity of the storm season and adjuster availability as we progress during this years storm season. During Katrina, one firm we staffed for made an exception to the experience requirement when they got to a stage they had to accept LICENSED adjusters with no experience and said "send me everyone you have with a LICENSE that has a construction background as a GC" and we'll train them on the other file requirements as they did feel they could more quickly prepare them to handle the remainder of file requirements.

Another certification that helps with deployment is the NFIP certification which currently requires 4 years of experience yet we have trainee adjusters with contractor background that got NFIP certifications last year. We actually had one husband and wife team with the same level of training(new) and the husband was approved for his NFIP certification and the wife was not(with an agent background even) .Even though many know they may not get the certification, they have still taken the NFIP certification class just to understand the flood coverage and how that relates the the flood exclusions in HO policies.  Here is a class coming up near you in KY:

http://www.hbcadjusting.com/


Interestingly, we polled members on our site with the majority responding being trainees entering the field in 04/05 and they ARE hanging in there inspite of no assignments in 06. Out of 52 responding to the poll...only 3 have dropped their goal to become adjusters due to lack of work. The majority are committed to continuing their training and working with experienced mentors to obtain field training and waiting on assignments.

If we were requested by an adjusting firm to send trainees due to a vast need, we would be sure to send them the trainees not only with construction backgrounds but also choose those who had taken their certification classes, NFIP classes and other courses and major conferences such as the wind conference showing they had been proactive in gaining professional education to perform at acceptable levels. There are hundreds of trainees out there doing so, thus, I do not think that those with just an adjuster's license and no other proactive training will be selected- atleast the first call for trainees being accepted as candidates.

We have found that the majority of experienced independents have been very helpful in providing answers you need so feel free to ask any additional questions. I'm certain you will receive answers to the majority of your questions providing they are asked respectfully such as your post!

It is important for trainees to know that the many adjusting firm classes and major organization yearly claim conferences are going on during the spring. Most of the major programs and vendor conferences will be done(to include the NFIP classes) before hurricane season starts June 1st. Don't miss this window of opportunity to gain the training you need if your serious about a career in Claims!

Thank You all so Much for all of your help, and Dimechimes your links are a great help. I really look forward to working in this feild, and the help is so appreciated. I have worked so long in a Dog eat Dog world that it is a breathe of fresh air to have found a feild where others are willing to help. I will take all of your suggestions and advice to heart, and try my best to follow through.

Thank You.............

I have also been told that my 8 years as a firefighter and numerous certifications would help me in this. I feel it would be a little irrelevent to list so many firefighting certs on my resume. Is it a good idea or should I just add that into the work history.

Here's a link to a good Career Builder article on Resume Killers and also an article on Cat Adjuster resumes posted in June 2006 Claims Magazine on Cat adjuster resumes that may help you decide what should and should not be included:

http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/10-r...4509990004

http://cms.nationalunderwriter.com/...atastrophe

Dimechimes you intrigue me so. You have out done helping me. I highly respect your knowledge and wisdom in this work.

Thank You so much for your help.

Crystalshannon, it would be an excellent idea for you to join ClaimsMentor. Debbie does an outstanding job helping new adjuster trainees, better known in this industry as newbies. This is a complex occupation, requiring many skills and knowledge. If your attitude is right, you can get all the knowledge you need online, then comes the field experience. Your firefighting background will be  a big benefit to you. I have 47 years in this business come April 7th and I can assure you that I do not know all there is to know in this business. This is a business that constant learning is a necessity. Never allow anyone to dissuade you from your intent to pursue this occupation. After all, it is only you that can make or break your desires.

 

Crystal,

Deb (Dimechines) is awesome and very knowledgeable and always helpful.  Join Claims Mentor and soak up all the knowledge you can from her.  She's always there to help and offer words of encouragement and wisdom.  I only hope that one day I can have half the knowledge of this industry that she does! 

Thank you all so much for your favorable comments about ClaimSmentor. It is the knowledge of the group participating and sharing information that is allowing our project to succeed. WE appreciate all of the experienced adjusters and adjusting firm managers that have joined us in our online e-mentoring program helping new adjusters. Everyone has been awesome.

Those who deserve the real pat on the back are the Independent adjusters. As a staff National Catastrophe team manager and a field unit manager for a major carrier for many years and employed as a carrier staff adjuster,(28 years with carrier) I can honestly say I had no REAL idea about the hardships faced by Independents in gathering valuable training, finding housing, and the many issues Independents face regarding fee payments. I supervised many independents on cat that I remain friends with today many years later. Never once did they complain about the hardships and struggles they went through to become core adjusters with good vendors.As staff managers, we did not hear about the housing issues they faced and from day 1 of a cat expected production having no REAL idea about the struggles you faced securing housing and internet connections just to get up and running.(We were flown in with our hotel, meals, transportation taken care of by the carrier).

After I became involved in the Independent side of things myself, I learned that I knew much about my carriers way of doing things and it was a real eye opener to learn that wasn't the only way. Other carriers had other processes, learning new CMS systems for each carrier, new file requirements, what it was like to be managing files for multiple carriers at one time during the 4 in 04 and having to memorize the file requirements of each. I wish all staff claim managers could take a year walking in your shoes to truly appreciate you and what you each have overcome to be successful as Independent adjusters. We tend to live in our own little world among those with our carrier with no real concept about your plight. My hats are off to all Independents and YOUR vast knowledge- not just with one carrier but the many involved. Your adjusting firms should be proud of you living up to their expectations not to complain while in house at carrier offices. I can truly say after years learning the ropes on this side of the fence, that you are a dedicated group of folks who have overcome many obstacles not faced by staff adjusters and I learn myself from many of you daily.

Here's to all Independents for a safe and successful 2007 storm season!